North Iowa forward Panvica signs NAHL tender
January 21, 2015
The North Iowa Bulls, proud members of the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL), are pleased to announce that forward Johnny Panvica has signed an NAHL tender agreement with the Soo Eagles. The Eagles compete in the NAHL’s North Division.
Panvica, 19, is coming off another great week of play as he was named the NA3HL West Division Star of the Week. Panvica helped the 1st place Bulls to a weekend road sweep in Minnesota against the Flying Aces. Panvica had four goals during the weekend as North Iowa exploded for 16 goals in the two wins. The native of Bloomington, Minnesota, scored a goal in Friday’s 7-3 win and on Saturday, Panvica (5’8/175) had a hat-trick, including the game-winning goal, in a 9-0 shutout.
For the season, Panvica is tied for the team lead in scoring with 40 points in 28 games played. That includes 15 goals and 25 assists.
Panvica started the season playing for the Amarillo Bulls in the NAHL.
Prior to this season, Panvica played high school hockey in Minnesota for Bloomington Jefferson High School.
"Signing a tender with the Soo Eagles is a reward for Johnny's efforts here. Giving the Soo the opportunity to watch him at their pace in practice shows the commitment of the Eagles and Johnny in developing the bond between player and team,” said Bulls head coach Todd Sanden.
Panvica is the first Bulls player and third NA3HL player overall to sign an NAHL tender so far this season.
A tender is a contract, of sorts, a player signs announcing his intentions to play for that particular NAHL team and that NAHL team only. Once a player signs a tender with an NAHL team, his playing rights belong to that team within the NAHL and he may not be recruited by any other NAHL team. Each team is granted ten (10) tenders, which include one tender exclusively used on players from the NA3HL - plus or minus any trades - which become active on Nov. 1. Tendered players are not eligible for the NAHL draft, which will be held in June of 2015.
